Phygelius plant named ‘Yapor’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Phygelius  named ‘Yapor’ that is characterized by a compact well-branched habit and salmon-orange pendulous flowers. In combination these traits set ‘Yapor’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Phygelius  known to the inventor.

Genus: Phygelius.

Species: aequalis×capensis.

Denomination: ‘Yapor’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhygelius, that is grown for its ornamental pendulous salmon-orangeflowers and contrasting brown or burgundy stems. The new cultivar isknown botanically as Phygelius aequalis×capensis and will be referred tohereinafter by the cultivar name ‘Yapor’.

The inventor has been interested for some fifteen years in the genusPhygelius, and has collected many named and unnamed plants of the threespecies of Phygelius, namely Phygelius aequalis, Phygelius capensis, andthe inter-specific Phygelius×rectus (P. aequalis×capensis). The inventorhas recognized that the genus would be more widely produced and soldcommercially if its growth habit would be shorter and more sturdy withnatural self-branching. The species of Phygelius and most of theavailable cultivars, exhibit a vigorous upright growth, such that,although the flowers are much admired, the habit of the plant itself isunappealing to some gardeners. Although it is possible to inducebranching and shorter internodes by the application of plant growthregulators during the production cycle, the effect of such applicationswears off as the season proceeds and the plants fail to remain uprightwithout staking or support from adjacent plants.

‘Yapor’ was bred by the inventor in a cultivated area of Cheshire,England. ‘Yapor’ is one of three varieties selected for release from thesame breeding program. The companion varieties ‘Yapocor’ (U.S. Plantapplication Ser. No. 11/053,252) and ‘Yapyel’ (U.S. Plant applicationSer. No. 11/053,534) are the subject of contemporaneous applications.The plant habits of ‘Yapor’, ‘Yapcor’ and ‘Yapyel’ are similarlycompact, and their flower colors are respectively salmon-orange, darkcoral pink, and yellow. ‘Yapor’ arose as follows:

In 1990, the inventor purchased a single plant of Phygelius labeledsimply as Phygelius aequalis, that is, without a cultivar designation.This plant carried the characteristic pale yellow flowers of the speciesPhygelius aequalis but the inventor was attracted by itsuncharacteristic compact habit. The inventor allowed the plant to run toseed, then harvested a quantity of seed which was sown and grown out asa seedling population. The inventor selected a single unnamed plant as auseful parent for a future breeding program aimed at producing a seriesof complementary flower colors on plants with natural compactness andgood branching. The unnamed selection grows to a height of 40 cm in theseason whereas plants of the genus typically achieve heights of orexceeding 70 cm in one growing season. The unnamed selection, which hasnever been made available to the public and is unpatented, has beenmaintained and renewed by vegetative propagation at the inventor'snursery in Somerford, Cheshire, England.

In 1998, the inventor commenced his program to derive a series ofcompact cultivars of Phygelius. The inventor selected a single unnamedplant of the species Phygelius capensis (common name, Orange CapeFuchsia, unpatented) for hand cross-pollination with the unnamedselection above. The inventor used flowers from both plants as bothpollen donors and pollen receptors and seed was collected from bothplants for sowing and seedling grow-out in 1999. From plants selected in1999 and vegetatively propagated and grown to flowering in 2000, theinventor selected ‘Yapor’ as presenting the best combination of improvedplant habit and distinct and clear flower color and overallcompatibility with the contemporaneously selected varieties ‘Yapcor’ and‘Yapyel’ whose breeding had followed the same procedure, namely the useof a promising parent as alternate parent with the unnamed selection asdescribed in the relative applications ‘Yapcor’ and ‘Yapyel’.

The distinguishing characteristics of ‘Yapor’ are flower color and planthabit.

Whereas the one parent, the unnamed selection, exhibits pale yellowflowers without any color variation in the tube, the flowers of ‘Yapor’are salmon-orange with yellow coloration of the inside of the corollatube.

Whereas the alternate parent, Phygelius capensis is approximately 70 cmin overall height and sparse basal branching, ‘Yapor’ exhibits multiplebranching and an overall height of approximately 40 cm. The flowercolors of Phygelius capensis and ‘Yapor’ are both in the orange range,and both exhibit a yellow coloration to the inside of the corolla tube.

The closest varieties in appearance known to the inventor are theinventor's varieties ‘Yapcor’ and ‘Yapyel’ which differ in flowercoloration.

‘Yapor’ was first asexually propagated by the inventor is Cheshire,England in 1999 using softwood cuttings. Since that time, under carefulobservation, the distinguishing characteristics have been determinedstable and uniform and reproduces true to type in successive generationsof asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newPhygelius cultivar ‘Yapor’. In combination these traits set ‘Yapor’apart from all other existing varieties of Phygelius known to theinventor. ‘Yapor’ has not been tested under all possible conditions andphenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental,climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without any variance ingenotype.

-   -   1. Phygelius ‘Yapor’ is 40 cm-45 cm in height and 35 cm-40 cm in        width.    -   2. Phygelius ‘Yapor’ branches naturally from the base when grown        in a container.    -   3. Phygelius ‘Yapor’ may spread by underground stolons when        planted in the ground in conditions where it remains perennial.    -   4. Phygelius ‘Yapor’ exhibits pendulous clusters of        salmon-orange flowers in summer and fall.    -   5. Phygelius ‘Yapor’ tolerates temperatures of minus 5° Celsius        to minus 8° Celsius.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the distinguishing traitsof the new Phygelius cultivar ‘Yapor’. The plant photographed was in itsfirst season of growth at the inventor's nursery in Cheshire, England.The plant was started as a cutting in early spring and potted into a 1liter pot in a cool greenhouse (temperature maintained at or above 10degrees Celsius) prior to being stood outside after the risk of frost.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 1 illustrates a plant of ‘Yapor’ at the timeof removal from the greenhouse, around May. FIG. 1 depicts the basalbranching habit of ‘Yapor’ and illustrates the brown or burgundy flowerstems with flowers still in tight bud.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of aninflorescence of ‘Yapor’. FIG. 2 depicts the brown or burgundy stemcolor, the salmon-orange corolla tubes, the exserted stamens and theyellow coloration to the inside of the corolla tube.

All photographs were taken using conventional techniques and areconsidered reasonably representative of the foliage and flower colors of‘Yapor’ although to the naked eye flower color appears to vary accordingto ambient light conditions.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the Phygelius cultivar named‘Yapor’. Data was collected from a 6 month old plant which was startedas a cutting in early spring and potted into a 1 liter pot in a coolgreenhouse in Cheshire, England (temperature maintained at or above 10degrees Celsius) prior to being stood outside. Color determinations arein accordance with the 2001 Edition of The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification:    -   -   Genus.—Phygelius.        -   Species.—Aequalis×capensis.        -   Denomination.—‘Yapor’.-   Common name: Cape Fuchsia.-   Uses: Herbaceous perennial in temperate or Mediterranean climates;    container annual or component with other plants in mixed annual    containers in all climates.-   Parentage: ‘Yapor’ is a hybrid resulting from the cross-pollination    of an unnamed and unreleased plant of Phygelius aequalis and an    unnamed plant of the species Phygelius capensis, both unpatented.-   Type: Perennial.-   Vigor: Moderate to vigorous: makes approximately 15 cm growth per    month.-   Habit: Upright.-   Shape: Foliage makes broad inverted triangle.-   Height: 40 cm-45 cm.-   Width: 35 cm-40 cm.-   Hardiness: USDA Zone 7B.-   Propagation: Softwood cuttings.-   Root system: Fibrous.-   Soil: Plant in well-drained soils.-   Sunlight: Plant in full sunlight.-   Plant sexuality: Bisexual.-   Time to initiate roots: 2 weeks are required for an initial cutting    to produce roots.-   Crop time: Approximately 25 weeks are required to produce a finished    flowering plant in a 1 liter container from a rooted cutting.-   Susceptibility or resistance to pests and diseases: None noted for    the genus or for ‘Yapor’ in particular.-   Seasonal interest: Flowers in summer and fall.-   Stem:    -   -   Basal branching.—Moderate: 3-5 stems typically grow from            base.        -   Lateral branching (without pinching).—Approximately 11            branches produced during first season.        -   Basal stems length.—25 cm-35 cm.        -   Basal stems diameter.—Varies widely: between 3 mm-6 mm at            the base to between 2 mm-4 mm below inflorescence.            Occasional dominant basal stem with dimensions at higher            range.        -   Lateral branch length.—20 cm to base of inflorescence.        -   Lateral branch diameter.—3 mm.        -   Internode length.—3.5 cm. between nodes.        -   Shape.—Quadrangular; older stems almost rounded.        -   Surface.—Glabrous, slightly glossy.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Texture.—Young stems covered with lanceolate lenticels;            length 0.5 mm, width 0.2 mm, coloration 145C and 145D.        -   Stem color.—At base, 144B, becoming grayed-orange 177A and            177B towards inflorescence.-   Foliage:    -   -   Type.—Evergreen.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaves per lateral branch.—Averages 14 (7 pairs).        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf shape.—Ovate.        -   Leaf margin.—Serrate, averages 4 teeth per cm.        -   Leaf base.—Short attenuate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate.        -   Vein color (adaxial surfaces).—144A.        -   Vein color (abaxial surface).—144A and 144B.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Petiole dimensions.—2.3 cm. in length and 2 mm. in diameter.        -   Petiole color.—144A.        -   Stipules.—Absent.        -   Leaf length.—8.1 cm. in length.        -   Leaf width.—3.7 cm. in width.        -   Leaf color (young leaves, adaxial surface).—Between 141B and            143A.        -   Leaf color (young leaves, abaxial surface).—146B.        -   Leaf color (mature leaves, adaxial surface).—137A.        -   Leaf color (mature leaves, abaxial surface).—147B.        -   Leaf surfaces (adaxial and abaxial).—Smooth, glabrous.            Pubescence absent.        -   Foliar fragrance.—Absent.-   Flower:    -   -   Natural flowering season.—Summer into fall (late June to            late October).        -   Inflorescence.—Compound terminal cyme.        -   Inflorescence height.—15 cm-17 cm.        -   Inflorescence width.—10 cm-12 cm.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—Approximately 60.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—Approximately 300 at            peak flowering.        -   Form.—Solitary.        -   Flower shape.—Tubular with five apical lobes.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.        -   Aspect.—Pendulous.        -   Peduncle strength.—Strong: flowers do not detach in wind.        -   Angle of peduncle to stem.—40°.        -   Peduncle length.—22 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—3 mm.        -   Surface of peduncle.—Glabrous.        -   Color of peduncle.—177A.        -   Pedicels.—Present.        -   Pedicel dimensions.—1.7 cm in length, 1 mm in diameter.        -   Pedicel color.—183A.        -   Bud.—Tubular and nutant.        -   Bud length.—2.9 cm.        -   Bud diameter.—6 mm.        -   Bud shape.—Narrow oblong-obovate, curved.        -   Bud color.—35A and 35B, tip slightly darker.        -   Bud rate of opening.—Approximately 5 days from tight bud to            fully open and extended flower.        -   Diameter of flower (at base).—6 mm.        -   Diameter of flower (apex).—1.5 cm-1.8 cm including lobes.        -   Depth of flower (corolla tube and lobes).—5.1 cm.        -   Depth of flower (corolla tube).—4.4 cm.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Lastingness of a single flower on the plant.—1 week.        -   Petals.—Five in number.        -   Fused or unfused.—Petals are fused, except upper 15% of            petals are free.        -   Petal shape.—Upper (free) part of petal is broad ovate.        -   Petal margin.—Entire, revolute.        -   Petal apex.—Acute.        -   Petal length (fused part and unfused part).—5.1 cm.        -   Petal length (fused part).—4.4 cm.        -   Petal width (unfused part).—5 mm.        -   Petal apical lobe.—Depth 7 mm., width 5 mm.        -   Petal (corolla tube) color, outer surface.—Varies between            35A and 35B.        -   Petal (corolla tube) color, inside surface.—Yellow 8C and 8D            except for red 45B coloration of inner (under) surface of            apical lobes.        -   Calyx shape.—Campanulate.        -   Calyx length.—8 mm.        -   Calyx diameter.—1.0 mm-1.2 mm.        -   Calyx surface.—Glabrous.        -   Sepals.—Five in number.        -   Fused or unfused.—Sepals are basally fused.        -   Sepal appearance.—Smooth, dull.        -   Sepal arrangement.—Campanulate.        -   Sepal length.—6 mm.        -   Sepal width.—3 mm.        -   Sepal margin.—Entire.        -   Sepal apex.—Acute.        -   Sepal base.—Fused, lower 20%.        -   Sepal color, adaxial surface.—N199A.        -   Sepal color, abaxial surface.—200B.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Four.        -   Stamen dimensions.—1 cm. in length and 2 mm in diameter.        -   Stamen color.—61A.        -   Filament.—Implanted in tube, length 15 mm.        -   Anther attachment.—Basifixed.        -   Anther shape.—Oval.        -   Anther dimensions.—Length and width between 2.5 mm and 3 mm.        -   Anther color.—Between 147A and 201B.        -   Pollen amount.—Moderate.        -   Pollen color.—195A but darker.        -   Pistil.—One.        -   Dimensions of pistil.—5.5 cm. in length and less than 1 mm.            in diameter.        -   Stigma shape.—Club-shaped.        -   Stigma color.—N200A.        -   Style length.—5.2 cm.        -   Style color.—35A; tip slightly darker.        -   Ovary position.—Superior.        -   Ovary color.—146C.-   Capsule and seed:    -   -   Capsule.—Color as for stem, shape oval, pointed, opens like            a beak. Dimensions: approximately 1 cm in length and 5 mm in            width. Texture: Rough with lateral ribs.        -   Seed.—Approximately 200-500 per capsule. Spherical, less            than 0.5 mm diameter, dark brown, close to 200A, gritty            texture.

1. A new and distinct variety of Phygelius plant named ‘Yapor’ asdescribed and illustrated.